title: CACTA-like transposable element in ZmCCT attenuated photoperiod sensitivity and accelerated the postdomestication spread of maize.
abstract: The postdomestication adaptation of maize to longer days required reduced photoperiod sensitivity to optimize flowering time. We performed a genome-wide association study and confirmed that ZmCCT, encoding a CCT domain-containing protein, is associated with the photoperiod response. In early-flowering maize we detected a CACTA-like transposable element (TE) within the ZmCCT promoter that dramatically reduced flowering time. TE insertion likely occurred after domestication and was selected as maize adapted to temperate zones. This process resulted in a strong selective sweep within the TE-related block of linkage disequilibrium. Functional validations indicated that the TE represses ZmCCT expression to reduce photoperiod sensitivity, thus accelerating maize spread to long-day environments.
authors.affiliation: National Maize Improvement Center of China, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wenqiang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lixia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jianrong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yipu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Jiansheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yanhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jianbing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Mingliang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001483:Base Sequence; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000502:physiology*; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017440:Photoperiod; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D012097:Repressor Proteins